Ska-punk may not be the most popular music in a world of MTV pop-punkers
and whiny emo bands, but Upstate New York's Public Access doesn't give a
shit what's popular. The five-piece group has been refining their
approach to hardcore ska punk since their formation sometime in 2000
while attending high school. While they incorporate elements and
influences of early hardcore, punk, and ska, it's tough to fit them into
any one of those categories. Public Access have the speed, aggression,
and intelligent lyrics of some of the best punk and hardcore bands and
have the distinction of being one of only a handful of groups to have a
baritone sax-weilding frontman. This sound has earned the group
comparisons to Operation Ivy, early Mighty Mighty Bosstones and more
recently, "Minor Threat with horns."
One of the most prominent features of the band is their staunch belief
in the DIY mentality. Public Access played a significant part in
reviving the long-neglected ska scene in Albany by booking many shows
and exposing great underground bands to new audiences.
Over the last six years Public Access has played with over 300 shows
with a diverse group of bands. They toured the Midwest in 2004 and have
been frequently touring up and down the East Coast ever since then in
support. Their 6-song EP, "Fleeced" was released in July by the
Seattle-based indie label/zine Pocketful of Change. Since the EP they
have introduced a new drummer to the band and have been working heavily
on new material along side a busy show schedule....with no "indefinite
hiatus" in sight.
Rumspringer
Galactic Cannibal
Brain Attack
A Secret Policeman's Ball
Light Years
Places To Hide
MxPx
Careers in Science
Lemuria
![Make Do and Mend / The Flatliners split [7-inch]](/images/covers/thumb/make-do-and-mend--the-flatliners-split-7-inch.jpg)
Make Do and Mend / The Flatliners
Light Years
![Pet Symmetry Two Songs About Cars. Two Songs With Long Titles. [7-inch]](/images/covers/thumb/pet-symmetry-two-songs-about-cars-two-songs-with-long-titles-7-inch.jpg)
Pet Symmetry
Various Artists
Donovan Wolfington
![Sickoids No Home [12-inch]](/images/covers/thumb/sickoids-no-home-12-inch.jpg)
Sickoids
The Front Bottoms / Weatherbox
![Slaughterhouse Chorus/Bridge Under Fire split [7-inch]](/images/covers/thumb/slaughterhouse-chorusbridge-under-fire-split-7-inch.jpg)
Slaughterhouse Chorus/Bridge Under Fire
Ska-punk may not be the most popular music in a world of MTV pop-punkers and whiny emo bands, but Upstate New York's Public Access doesn't give a shit what's popular. The five-piece group has been refining their approach to hardcore ska punk since their formation sometime in 2000 while attending high school. While they incorporate elements and influences of early hardcore, punk, and ska, it's tough to fit them into any one of those categories. Public Access have the speed, aggression, and intelligent lyrics of some of the best punk and hardcore bands and have the distinction of being one of only a handful of groups to have a baritone sax-weilding frontman. This sound has earned the group comparisons to Operation Ivy, early Mighty Mighty Bosstones and more recently, "Minor Threat with horns."
One of the most prominent features of the band is their staunch belief in the DIY mentality. Public Access played a significant part in reviving the long-neglected ska scene in Albany by booking many shows and exposing great underground bands to new audiences.
Over the last six years Public Access has played with over 300 shows with a diverse group of bands. They toured the Midwest in 2004 and have been frequently touring up and down the East Coast ever since then in support. Their 6-song EP, "Fleeced" was released in July by the Seattle-based indie label/zine Pocketful of Change. Since the EP they have introduced a new drummer to the band and have been working heavily on new material along side a busy show schedule....with no "indefinite hiatus" in sight.